What tools for rural development in the municipality are available and can be used starting today? Which tools are designed specifically for rural municipalities, and which should be applied by urban municipalities with rural areas? What EU rural development tools should be implemented in Ukraine, and how can municipalities prepare for this? How can a municipality build its local identity, and how does this influence rural development? How can municipalities identify and form target stakeholder groups, operational groups of small agricultural producers, and why is this important? How can rural areas effectively support social, youth, and veteran entrepreneurship? How can municipalities establish effective communication with all rural development stakeholders?
What is it?
The Training Programme is aimed at developing the professional competencies of local self-government officials in implementing rural development tools and establishing systematic cooperation with stakeholders grouped by these tools.
Benefits for participants
As part of the Training Programme the Participants will:
- Understand the available tools for rural community development and their implementation specifics;
- Learn about the AKIS system as a European model for supporting rural development;
- Explore the LEADER/CLLD approach widely used in the EU for rural and economic development;
- Develop skills to create a stakeholder map (target groups or individuals) for rural community development;
- Master tools for activating small agricultural producers and forming operational groups;
- Learn how to assess community resources (personal, geographic, ethnic, cultural, historical) to build local identity and visualize the municipality image;
- Understand what measures to develop to support social, youth, and veteran entrepreneurship through cooperation with youth, women, IDPs, small agricultural producers, etc.;
- Master tools for effective communication with all rural development stakeholders;
- Establish contacts and cooperation with colleagues from other regions of Ukraine.
Who can participate?
75 selected local government officials — deputy heads, heads and specialists of executive bodies whose functional responsibilities include economic development and rural development, starostas, and rural development officers — one representative per a municipality with a population of up to 50,000 people, not located in temporarily occupied territories or areas of active hostilities, and with technical capabilities (microphone, camera) to join online events.
When?
Starting 30 September 2025. Duration — 4 weeks.
All events will be held online and are free of charge for participants.
How to apply?
To participate in the selection, please complete the Application Form in MS Excel format (attached) and send it to: regops.u-lead@giz.de by 18:00 on 10 September 2025, indicating in the subject line: “Steps_RuralDevelopmentTools_MunicipalityName_Oblast”.
Details about the Training Programme will be presented at the promo event on 3 September 2025, at 10:00 AM via the following link: Join the meeting now
Let’s take steps toward success together!
The U-LEAD with Europe Team
